Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Victims of Crime

Thursday 14 March 2024 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Crown Prosecution Service is transforming how it supports victims, including rolling out a victim transformation programme where every rape victim will receive an invitation to meet their prosecution team before their case goes to trial.
  • The programmes include closer working between the police and the CPS to support victims, particularly those of hate crimes.
  • Emily Thornberry raised concerns about a Warwick University report on the recent handling of rape cases by the CPS, and the Attorney General expressed horror at many of the findings and acknowledged the need for significant work to improve victim experiences.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Andrew Jones Con
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

The Crown Prosecution Service is under scrutiny for the treatment of victims of crime.

Question

What steps the Crown Prosecution Service is taking to improve the experience of victims of crime?

Answer from Robert Courts

The Crown Prosecution Service is transforming the way that it supports victims. The victim transformation programme will roll out this spring; under it, for example, every rape victim will receive an invitation to meet their prosecution team before their case goes to trial.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specifics of how the CPS is improving victim experiences beyond the mentioned programme are not provided.

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Q2 Andrew Jones Con
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

The tension resulting from the conflict in Israel and Gaza is causing an escalation in hate crimes.

Question

What progress is my hon. and learned Friend making alongside the CPS to ensure that the victims of these crimes—indeed, the victims of any hate crime—receive full support, and that the perpetrators are prosecuted?

Answer from Robert Courts

My hon. Friend raises the absolutely key point, which is the support given to victims. The programmes that the CPS is rolling out include a programme for closer working between the police and the CPS, to support victims. He will be pleased to know that in the rolling year to September 2023, the CPS prosecuted 12,508 hate crime offences, with a charge rate of 86% and a conviction rate of 84%, and in 78% of those cases, the judge increased the offender's sentence because they agreed that it was a hate crime.

Partly answered

Not addressed: While providing some statistics, specific progress or actions are not detailed beyond the existing programmes.

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Q3 Barry Sheerman Lab
Justice & Courts
Context

Some of the most tragic cases involve a family member being murdered, and the time some constituents have to wait due to coroners court delays is unacceptable.

Question

Does the Minister agree that some of the most tragic cases are those in which a family member is murdered? In that context, could coroners courts and the coroner system be modernised?

Answer from Robert Courts

The hon. Member raises a key point. There is nothing more tragic than the circumstances he outlines. I am happy to meet him to talk about any specific case concerns he has, but more broadly, I am acutely aware of the pressures, and I will look at whether there is anything I can do to ensure that the pressures and stresses on his constituents are alleviated.

Not addressed: The question about modernising coroners courts was not addressed directly; rather, an offer to discuss specific cases was given.

How: Looking At This

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Q4 Emily Thornberry Lab Islington South and Finsbury
Justice & Courts
Context

A recent Warwick University report criticises the CPS's handling of rape cases, highlighting poor communication, quality control, decision-making, attitudes, and resources.

Question

The Attorney General and the Solicitor General will have been as shocked as I was to read this week's report by researchers at Warwick University on the recent handling of rape cases by the CPS. Do the Law Officers agree that we simply cannot leave things there? Will they undertake to come back to the House with an action plan based on the findings of this report, and a clear timetable for its implementation?

Answer from Robert Courts

I am grateful to the right hon. Lady for raising that. I am horrified by a great number of the findings. There is clearly a lot of work here. Things are clearly moving in the right direction, and much of the work being undertaken by the CPS is on liaising with victims and ensuring that their experience is as easy as possible, in the hugely traumatic circumstances. There is a lot more to do on joint working, but I am happy to continue liaising with her, in order to update her as this goes forward.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The commitment for an action plan and timetable was not provided; the response acknowledged issues without concrete actions beyond ongoing liaison.

How: Working On This

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